The Osun State Broiler Outgrowers Production Scheme (OBOPS), has produced at least five million birds in the last three years, the scheme managers have said.Revealing this at the weekend, Mr. Kolawole Ogini, who is the facilitator of the second phase of the scheme stated that OBOPS has placed Osun among states with relatively high production in poultry business.

He disclosed that Amo Byng Poultry Farm has been saddled with the responsibility of stocking day-old-chicks and appropriate feeds to raise the birds to maturity through a bank loan, after which the anchor farm buys back from the participants.

Ogini stated that the second phase of the scheme is a Public-Private Partnership scheme designed to facilitate poultry farming within the state.While reviewing the selection process, Ogini said the scheme is open to poultry farmers with 2,000 capacity pens and bio-security facilities in place, which includes perimeter netting and well closed entrance.

While lauding government for successes recorded in several agricultural intervention programmes, he said the first phase of the scheme recorded a huge success, as about 768 farmers were engaged, with cash profit paid to farmers which stood at N785m, as well as, making over 120 broiler farmers who keyed into the initiative millionaires.

Aside this, the OBOPS programme has also helped the state government’s elementary school feeding programme, O’Meals leading to the gainful employment of about 1,000 farmers and over 3,000 food vendors.

“The OBOPS II pilot scheme, which initially engaged 15 poultry farmers has now grown into 100 farmers across the 30 local governments and 32 local council development areas with 2,000 day old chicks given to each farmer.”

Recall that the first phase, which made over 120 millionaires was sponsored by the Osun State government and anchored by TUNS farm.Ogini further revealed that for interested participants, “2,000 birds capacity pen is required for each farmer. They will be provided with all necessary facilities like drinkers, feeders, and hygienic source of water, among others.”